When Doc Kendall is examining Dunker's leg, there is a soldier holding a lamp with his left hand. Between shots the lamp is in his right hand.
When Marlowe is talking to Hanna at the bar, the stove behind them has a long red scarf draped around it. The scene cuts away and back very briefly, only a second, but when it does cut back the scarf is gone from the stove.
When Col. Marlowe asks a soldier for Maj. Kendall, his neckerchief knot is under his chin. When he enters in the colored people's shack, where Maj. Kendall is, his neckerchief knot is turned to his left shoulder.
Deacon Clump talks to Col. Marlowe holding his hat in front of him. In the next shot, when Marlowe leaves, his hat is in his head.
While the cavalry did wear yellow for uniform stripes and trim (though inaccurately portray in actual style in the film), medical services wore green trim. Medical officers wore dark blue (not green) backgrounds on their shoulder straps and gold piping on their trousers. Enlisted Hospital Stewards wore green and yellow rank insignia but the piping on their coats and the stripes on their trousers were crimson.
The 1st Michigan Cavalry Regiment served in the Eastern theater in 1863, most notably in the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Gettysburg, and so would not be in a brigade within General Grant's army.
The film is set in the Spring of 1863 as part of Grant's campaign against Vicksburg, which fell on July 4, 1863. The soldiers discuss their fear of being captured and sent to the notorious Confederate prison at Andersonville, the construction of which started in December 1863.
Colonel Marlowe identifies himself as the commander of the 1st Illinois (i.e., 1st Illinois Volunteer Cavalry Regiment), and so would have been a colonel in the Volunteer Army, not the regular Army. As such, even as a brigade commander, he would not have had the authority on his own to order Sergeant Kirby to replace his senior regimental sergeant.
The movie exteriors appear to have been shot in the fall, but the raid takes place in April 1863.
When Major Kendall drags Miss Hunter and Lukey into the conference room in Greenbriars, Lukey drops the tray of whiskey. Sergeant Kirby, standing nearby, reacts before the tray is dropped.
Sergeant Kirby was not reacting to the dropped tray. He is reacting to Lukey being abruptly yanked by Dr Kendall.
Sergeant Kirby was not reacting to the dropped tray. He is reacting to Lukey being abruptly yanked by Dr Kendall.
At the end of the officers' conference Colonel Marlow states; "No glory hunting Richards. Anything knock this into a cocked hat it'll be a firefight." The term "firefight" did not come into use until the end of the 19th century.
First use of "firefight" dates from around 1900, but it wasn't widespread until around mid 18th century.
First use of "firefight" dates from around 1900, but it wasn't widespread until around mid 18th century.
At 22:50 into the film, when the force is split and one third is leaving and John Wayne kicks out a smoldering fire before he mounts his horse, you can see a modern utility pole in the left hand side of the screen. They try to hide it behind a tree in the foreground, but as the troop moves out you can plainly see it and the 4 electric lines being supported.
Unwarranted assumption that it is a modern utility pole with electric lines. For the purposes of the movie, it may have been a telegraph pole with telegraph lines.
Unwarranted assumption that it is a modern utility pole with electric lines. For the purposes of the movie, it may have been a telegraph pole with telegraph lines.
Colonel Marlowe's complaint about Major Kendall's lack of a firearm is unfounded. Uniform standards were extremely lax in the field. The white coat and hat might logically be questioned, but not a choice not to wear a sidearm.
Since the unarmed non-combatant was to be added to Marlowe's troop about to embark on a perilous mission, he has a legit reason to make an issue of it.
Since the unarmed non-combatant was to be added to Marlowe's troop about to embark on a perilous mission, he has a legit reason to make an issue of it.
At the end of the film, when Marlowe lights the fuse to blow the bridge, as he's crossing the bridge, there are two explosions, at the end and up a little just as Marlowe passes by showing those two sections completely destroyed. Moments later when Miss Hunter comes out to watch him across the river, the end of the bridge is completely intact with nothing destroyed.
Mis-observation. Not only is part of the railing missing, the bridge deck is wrecked. 01:59:00.
Mis-observation. Not only is part of the railing missing, the bridge deck is wrecked. 01:59:00.
When they take the "one armed" Confederate Colonel away in Newton Station, his "missing" hand shows behind his back as he steps off the porch of the hotel.
In the house at Greenbrier after Major Kendall, Miss Hunter, and Lukey come down the stairs, shadows are visible on the landing above and behind them. The shadows are not in line with any visible light source, suggesting the presence of a spotlight hidden behind the chair at the right of the scene.
In the hotel bar at Newton Station Col. Kirby breaks a bottle of whiskey tucked in the front of Sgt. Kirby's trousers . The trousers are already wet from a previous take.
After Marlowe takes Kirby's wicker-bound jug (0:14:25) and tosses it away, it shatters. That's the purpose of the wicker basket - to prevent shattering.
Despite being on the move for days on end, Miss Hannah Hunter still possesses a neat, clean, and professionally styled head of hair.
The Horse Soldiers Makeup Department (hair stylist - as Fae Smith)
The Horse Soldiers Makeup Department (hair stylist - as Fae Smith)
When by the river with the Confederates on the other bank, John Wayne has his hair piece lifted by the wind generated by passing horses.
As the column proceeds down the country road, the advance scouts are fired at by Rebel Bushwhackers hidden in the bushes and behind trees as they follow a bend in the road. It has been suggested that the section of the column further down the road might be able to spot the hidden bushwhackers across a field.
In the shot right after Hank Worden throws the torch onto the cotton bales, look at the upper left of the screen. You will see an airplane flying from right to left.
The Confederate flags used in the movie are Army of Tennessee pattern and did not come into use until March of 1864.
Although the film takes place in 1863, Dr. Kendall is shown boiling surgical instruments to prevent them from infecting patients, a process that was not developed until 1879, by Dr. Louis Pasteur.
Although the story is set in 1863, all the soldiers are wearing 1872 pattern cavalry uniforms.
At 1:21:17, two bushwhackers take aim and fire on the Union column. Their rifles are post-war 1873 Trapdoor Springfield rifles.
When Kendall is removing Dunker's leg, one of the troopers is holding a lantern. In one shot, the lantern is turned a bit and the reflection of a stage light is visible in the glass.
At the beginning of the engagement with the boys from the military academy, Colonel Marlow orders "Assembly" be sounded. It is clear from the immediately preceding shot, that many of the troops are not only not mounted, but the horses are not even saddled. Therefore, the correct bugle call would have been "Boots and Saddles".
Trying to distract Dr. Kendall, Miss Hunter tells him of her scandalous behavior at a ball in Biloxi. Any southerner would know the correct pronunciation rhymes with Biluckxi, not Bilockxi as she pronounces it.